Sold

33: Master, Little Girl

When the door to Berea's cottage opens, only one pair of footsteps enter. They approach me cautiously as I lay with my eyes closed curled up in the hammock. I've stopped shaking and crying, but my body still feels ill and weary.

Fingertips reach out and gently stroke my hair, sparking my heartbeat to race and Neyenflies to flutter in my stomach. I keep my eyes closed and pretend I'm sleeping. I'm not ready to face him again yet after everything that happened.

"Saiea." Synn's deep voice dips down into a whisper. He trails his fingertips from my hair to my shoulder where he rubs his thumb in circles against my scarred skin.

"I'm sorry." His thumb pauses atop my shoulder. "I shouldn't have accepted you as a servant. I should have returned you to your tribe."

I don't budge. Pretending to still be asleep, I listen intently to him and hope he'll say more. There's so much I don't know about Synn, and my recent interactions with his family have made that even more obvious.

"After my mother died, my grandmother grew reclusive and I couldn't return to my father and siblings, especially when it was my job to keep my mother's power out of their hands." He exhales, settling onto the hammock beside me. His body feels as warm and comforting as rays of sunlight against my back.

"I left to live in the mountains, in that home of an old brood my parents had killed. I lived there for a long time before Fexen brought you in that wagon." His fingertips run back up and tangle in my hair, gently massaging my scalp as his voice hushes to a whisper. "And the more time I spent near you, the less alone I felt."

My breath hitches in my throat and my body tenses. I hope my startledness hasn't unintentionally revealed I'm awake but - to my thankfulness - Synn continues speaking.

"This may surprise you but I felt like my life was out of control, also. I lost everyone I spent my life around and was forced to leave my home to conceal the location power I never deserved to be cursed with responsibility for." He releases an exhale and returns to petting my hair. "Being your Master and taking care of you gave me solace and allowed me to feel as if I had a bit of direction over something else in the world."

His fingers lift from my head. "I know you aren't sleeping."

"I wanted you to keep talking." I furrow my brow and peek open an eye. His calm white eyes stare back. How long did he know? Was it from the moment my breath hitched in my throat or was it earlier than that? "Don't you hate me? I tried to kill you."

"Do you still wish to kill me?" Synn raises an angled brow.

"No, of course not." I roll over on the hammock and sit beside him, staring up into his eyes.

"Then what do you want?" The glow of the fire decorates his gaze with specks of warm orange as he stares down at me. "Speak plainly with me."

"I want...everything to be how it was." The more I speak, the more aware I am of his warm side pressing against mine, and how close we are to one another. "I want you to look at me the same way you did before. I want to help you feel less alone. I want to stay with you and...be yours. I don't want to be some object you own or something you take care of because it's pitiful or because you have to."

"Do I look at you any differently?" He inches closer, his face close enough I can see the rainbow shimmer in the scales lining his cheek and neck.

Goosebumps rise across my skin as my face flushes with warmth. "No, not right now."

"Do I touch you any differently?" He raises his hand to my chin, trailing his fingers gently across my cheek as he cups my jaw in his palm.

My voice trembles. "No."

His pale eyes stay steady peering back at me. "Aren't you still mine?"

"Am I?" My heart feels as if it might give out from all the frantic beating and a thought crosses my mind. "What is it you want?"

Synn hesitates as if he's mulling over his words. "I want you to choose to call me 'Master' again. To me, you're still the same beautiful, wonderful girl who brought companionship to my dreary life."

My mouth falls agape. I shake my head fervently, but his gaze holds firm. Frantic thoughts swarm my brain, but his gaze keeps me grounded.

All the hatred I felt toward him was anger stemming from the magick controlling my emotions. I bite my lip. So what do I feel now?

"Please." His eyes descend to my lips. "I need you to be my little girl again. I'm not forcing you like I know you have been in the past. This time, it's your choice."

His warm breath tickles my lips and my eyes flutter closed. For what feels like the first time, I make my own decision.

"Yes, Master Synn." It feels infinitely pleasurable letting the words slip off my lips.

For once, I truly am making my own choice. I'm not controlled by my father or the magick. I'm not seeking to control anyone else, to over-control everything, or to drown in power.

If I had any emotional barriers left around me, they crumble. I'm deciding my own future, my own place in the world, and my own man.

Master Synn's face softens and he lets out a breath of air, smiling as he pulls my body against his.

He presses his lips against mine, harder than I expect him to, and my head spins. His lips cushion every part of mine as if laying claim to every spot on my top and bottom lips.

I've never been kissed before and it feels incredible. My whole face grows even warmer as his thumb rubs circles on my cheek and his other hand tangles in my hair, pressing my lips even harder against his.

He pulls away from the kiss, resting his forehead against mine and peering into my eyes. I stare back, breathless and light-headed with my lips buzzing.

My gaze trails across his features, admiring him, and I know I'm blushing.

"Didn't I tell you not to look at me like that, slave girl?" He teases and I smile.